Introduction
Conservation grazing means using livestock to achieve nature conservation objectives. It usually involves grazing with small numbers of animals from traditional breeds.
Conservation grazing has many benefits:
- It can help prevent trees taking over, keeping new growth under control.
- Grazing animals will crop back heather and other plants keeping them in a healthy condition.
- It allows for different heights and structures of grasses and plants to occur. Tussocks form and they provide an ideal habitat for hibernating insects. Anthills are able to develop and bare patches are created that are ideal for solitary bees and wasps.
- Grazing is gradual and has a less damaging effect on insects than mowing.
- Re-introducing grazing on common land is a way of restoring an historic tradition and it helps to preserve traditional livestock breeds.
- Turning the grass into meat provides an opportunity for a grazier to produce local food in a sustainable way.
- Traditional breeds of livestock are a significant attraction to visitors and grazing the commons may lead to a wider understanding of where food comes from.
